If you want to grow your wealth faster than the average person, I suggest you try thinking in two unified schedules.
The first timetable is to analyze what is happening right now. The second timeline is to analyze what may happen in the future and stay consistent. It’s like having a dual computer processor always run in the brain.
I’ve been thinking about two schedules since 1999 when I got my first financial job when I graduated from college. Thinking that this approach builds enough wealth for me is the key to escaping the United States in 2012. I have never thought that way since then.
Examples of thinking more wealth in two timetables
A classic example of explaining my suggestions is for those who are currently working.
- Timeline 1: What do you think about work now?
- Timeline 2: If you are still doing the same job today, how do you think you will feel in ten years?
Most of the people I talk to never think about the problem when they first started working. They were happy to be there and full of optimism. But I want you to think about question 2, because I want you to go Predict your pain.
If you can get a rough time when you are in pain at work, you can take steps Prepare for that pain. But if you don’t always think about issue 2 in both schedules, you’re screwed up when you’re in pain. You have few choices to get rid of suboptimal situations.
Saving and investing enough to get rid of pain
When I was told that I had to enter at 5:30 AM and stay at 7 PM to make sure I provided the client with proper research from colleagues in Asia, I knew I couldn’t last for 40 years in my career as my parents did. Instead, I made a more realistic assessment: How long can I imagine how long it will last? The answer I proposed is 40 years old.
So I calculated how much courage it would take to walk away at that time. This number is $3 million. Depending on how the net assets are structured, it may generate $100,000 in passive income per year. Since then, saving and investing $3 million has become my mission. I keep seeing what life will be like for 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and beyond, and without a doubt in the grinding situation.
This two-auspicious method (the combination of the hustle and future dreams) is better than my energy and motivation. I really believe that if I don’t reach my net worth target, I might shorten my life from all the stress and time. I’ve started suffering from plantar fasciitis, uncontrollable allergies and weight gain.
Finally, due to an unexpected variable, I left for three months before my 35th birthday: being able to retain all deferred compensation and get six-figure severance 11 years after my last company. Severance payments cover five years of normal living expenses. Mastering the financial mat, I know it is or never-so I made a leap of faith.
Become a better investor using two schedules
Now, let’s use my two-dimensional approach to investing.
1) Current timetable:
Investors have performed very well since 2020, especially those who bet on their skills. In 2023 and 2024, the S&P 500 rose more than 20%, and the wealth of the investor class far exceeded expectations. Real estate has also performed well since 2020, although some markets such as Texas and Florida are correcting. Every investor should look at their net worth in 2020 and celebrate what they have.
2) Future timetable (10-20 years in advance):
If you or your parents are not actively investing, life may be in a tough mode indefinitely. The wealth gap has widened significantly since 2020 and is likely to continue to widen. In 10 to 20 years, it may be nearly impossible to buy a primary residence. Finding a job that pays a livable wage can also become increasingly difficult when AI destroys more industries.
What should we do?
Ensure that future plans will be OK
I have developed a general game plan to give my family a battle opportunity with an increasingly competitive and uncertain future.
1) Keep our primary residence and at least two rental properties to keep the property long.
Real estate is one of the most reliable ways to build and retain wealth over time. By holding property, we not only benefit from potential value-added and rental income, but also protect ourselves from future prices. You should consider owning a rental property for each child.
2) Developing two 529 plans equals the current four-year cost of today’s most expensive universities.
College tuition is rising faster than inflation, and there is no sign that it will slow down. The fully funded 529 program now ensures that our children are free to choose a quality education without taking the burden of debt or giving us a burden. They also have the option to attend the best colleges they accept.
3) Investment gift tax limits in each child’s custodial investment account and Roth IRAS at least annually.
Through consistent contributions, we harness the power of compounding. The goal is to build a financial foundation that enables them to pursue careers they like, not just those who pay bills or social “high status”.
4) The goal is to invest at least $100,000 in risk assets per year over the next 20 years.
To combat inflation and maintain purchasing power, consistent investments in stocks, venture capital and other growth-oriented assets are crucial. This positive approach is our hedge against stagnation and rising cost of living. As a writer, it’s not easy, but I’ve found a way in other activities somehow.
5) Build a $500,000 private AI company in private AI companies in the future to hedge in the tough job market.
AI is both a threat and an opportunity. By investing in private AI companies or funds, our goal is to participate in the benefits of technological disruption rather than simply becoming a victim of it.
Why is it reasonable to invest $500,000 in AI
Since 2017, I have been working on the reality of paying for college starting in 2036. Based on current forecasts, we are looking for the public in four years for about $450,000, and the tuition fee for private colleges. This is an amazing amount, especially considering that most of the content taught in schools today is available online for free.
One solution is to guide them into community college for two years and then transfer to intra-state colleges. The other is to educate them yourself, or at least educate as much as you can before you grow up.
But perhaps the most compelling solution is investing in technology that could undermine traditional education: artificial intelligence.
Potential returns from a $500,000 investment
At first glance, allocating $500,000 to private AI investment seems too much. But when you compare it to the college fees of $450,000-$750,000 for 2036, it starts to look like a rational hedge.
The logic is: If I’m willing to spend $450,000 to $750,000 at university in 2036 Every childthen I should definitely be willing to invest $500,000 or more in companies that may make traditional education obsolete. Heck, I really thought, I should be willing to invest $900,000-$1.5 million in a private AI company.
Here is how $500,000 investment grows at different compound annual growth rates (CAGR) over 10 and 20 years:
| Annual return | 10 years | 20 years |
|---|
The $500,000 investment is 15% per year over 20 years, growing to about $8.2 million. Can you imagine there Options Obtaining this capital in the mid-20s? While 15% is a positive target, these types of returns are more reasonable when investing in early stage private companies.
Just look at the performance of early investors in Openai, Anduril, Scual AI, Databricks and Anthropic, with annual yields exceeding 50% since their A Series A round.
Since 2006, as a private equity investor, I have had many and many bags of funds in all kinds of funds. However, the real challenge is having enough position among these winners to substantially move the needle. Another challenge is not investing too much bagels (100% losers) that will delay overall performance. Not easy.
Thinking about a life without regrets in two schedules
The present is short-lived, and the future is always approaching. To live rich, we must learn to keep these two schedules in mind: who we are now and who we want to be.
It is not enough to simply dream of a bright future – we must consistently align with that vision. Otherwise, we risk our lives and only want to know where all the time is.
We all get older. When the reflection of that moment comes (when the noise becomes calm and the days are almost gone, I hope we don’t regret it. Not because of the risks we take or the failures we face, but for the plans we never made and the steps we fear to take.
Today is to come to tomorrow. This is how we give meaning to both.
suggestion
If you want to invest in a private AI company, please check it out Fundraising venture capital products. With a minimum investment of $10, you can check out which fundraisers first before making an investment decision. I have invested $153,000 so far and I will continue to build my AI position to $500,000 at an average cost.
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